This chart will help you think of complex as well as simple questions for your explanation.
Why...? How….? How would it be different if...? What are the reasons...? Suppose that...? What if...? What if we knew...? What is the purpose of...? What would change if...? Why did ….?
EXPLANATIONPurpose To tell why something happened or how it works.
Organization
Beginning
®Identifies the object / event that will be explained
Middle
®Gives detailed information about the component parts and explains why the event happened or how the object works
Words that may help you start a paragraph to explain HOW and WHY:
First......Following this.....Next........
For this to happen.....
Whenever..
Since...
Because...
After....
Therefore....
End
®Summarizes the information and may provide a personal reaction / evaluation
Language Features
Generally uses present tense
Has mostly action words, but may be in the passive voice
Contains topic-specific technical vocabulary
Uses transition words to show time (whenever, until, after) or cause-and-effect (since, because, therefore)
is used by us
Week 8 activities Why is >>>>>>>a useful mineral?
You will write an explanation text that explains why a particular mineral is useful. Describe the mineral and give some interesting facts but then focus in your explanation on the way the mineral is used by us in our lives.
Why...?
How….?
How would it be different if...?
What are the reasons...?
Suppose that...?
What if...?
What if we knew...?
What is the purpose of...?
What would change if...?
Why did ….?
EXPLANATION Purpose
To tell why something happened or how it works.
Organization
- Beginning
® Identifies the object / event that will be explained- Middle
® Gives detailed information about the component parts and explains why the event happened or how the object worksWords that may help you start a paragraph to explain HOW and WHY:
First......Following this.....Next........
For this to happen.....
Whenever..
Since...
Because...
After....
Therefore....
- End
® Summarizes the information and may provide a personal reaction / evaluationLanguage Features
- Generally uses present tense
- Has mostly action words, but may be in the passive voice
- Contains topic-specific technical vocabulary
- Uses transition words to show time (whenever, until, after) or cause-and-effect (since, because, therefore)
What is an explanation?http://www.studyladder.com.au/resources/teacher/search?terms=explanation+genre&course_id=1
Examples
Sections of reports, articles, letters, textbooks
Explanation Text Form
Anchor Chart
What is an Explanation Text?
anchor-charts-explanation.doc
GO Chart
What does an Explanation Text look like?
go-chart-explanation.doc
Samples
What are some examples of Explanation Texts for intermediate students?
natural-disasters.pdf
is used by us
Week 8 activities
Why is >>>>>>>a useful mineral?
You will write an explanation text that explains why a particular mineral is useful. Describe the mineral and give some interesting facts but then focus in your explanation on the way the mineral is used by us in our lives.
This interactive will show you pictures and give you information.
http://www.oresomeresources.com/public_html/media/flash/interactives/rock_back/index.html
This big book is written in English and an Aboriginal language, Yolngu Matha.
http://www.oresomeresources.com/media/flash/Media%20-%20E-book.swf
www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/rocksandminerals.html
http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/discoverycentre/dynamic-earth/videos/aboriginal-use-of-rocks-and-minerals/
There are a lot of different minerals for you to write about on this Minerals Education site
http://www.oresomeresources.com/resources_listing/category/rocks_minerals/parent/rocks_minerals/section/resources/category_page/2
You may want to play an interactive game that explores the Mining Industry in Australia
http://www.oresomeresources.com/media/flash/interactives/minerals_downunder/